MARTIN Gallagher, the artist, is one of many clansmen who have arrived in Donegal for the world record attempt this weekend. He is exhibiting his works in Gallagher's Hotel, on the High Road from today (Friday) until 15th September next.

Abstract oil and acrylic paintings depicting west Donegal and the changing light of bogland are a constant theme in his work.

As an artist, Martin Gallagher was a child prodigy and has been painting ever since. Apart from working alongside other painters and occasionally attending art classes, he is totally self taught. He was born in Scotland in 1960 of Irish parents, and moved to Donegal in 1963 and in 1972 the family relocated to Manchester. There he remained until he was 20, later returning to live in Ireland, where the beauty of the landscape began to weave its magic on him. He spent much of his time living in Letterkenny, moving to Dublin, London, New Zealand and the Canary Islands before settling in Sweden. He has returned with his family to Letterkenny this week to take part in the global Gallagher gathering.

In terms of his artistic development, his first love was watercolour and he worked in this medium for about ten years. Eventually Martin moved on to oil and acrylic, finding in these media a fresh challenge and a chance to work on larger pieces.

His work has an abstract quality, often providing a hint of sky, buildings or other material content, without ever getting too specific. The finished works are projections of the imagination mostly systematic arrangements of space and more importantly colour.

The artist's brush is directed only by a desire to transcend all painting formulae and to express something unique about his visions and feelings at a particular time.